Piper PA-31-350 N969BD

Summary

On 28 May 2013 at about 23:05 local time, a Piper PA-31-350 registered N969BD, operated by Sefton Donald H, was involved in an accident near Page, Arizona, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 May 2013 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Page, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Page Municipal Airport (KPGA)

Coordinates

36.8992, -111.4572

Aircraft

Piper PA-31-350

Registration

N969BD

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Sefton Donald H

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gainsville → Page

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13CA245

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper fuel planning.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he and four passengers were about 4.5 hours into the flight and about 10 nm from their destination when the left low boost light illuminated. About 20 seconds later the left engine quit, and the pilot feathered the propeller. After about 1 minute the right low boost light illuminated, and 20 seconds later, the right engine quit. The pilot feathered the right propeller and proceeded to execute a forced landing in the desert 5 miles east of the intended destination. During the accident sequence the right engine separated from the airplane and the left wing buckled, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane had ran out of fuel, and that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.